Here I go again, talking about opportunities to believe in yourself. But it's what's on my mind since rewatching the Matrix trilogy and seeing metaphors about outer vs. inner authority.

In one scene, Neo, a new recruit in the human cause, is jacked into the matrix, practice fighting Morpheus. Remember the line: "Don't think you can. Know you can." Morpheus is asking Neo to define himself in expanded terms, not let old thinking he's learned hold him back from his potential. Expose the limitations for what they are: limited thinking that suppresses his abilities, and embrace greater possibilities.

It spoke to me because I so easily frame my experiences within a context of outer approval, seeking confirmation from others that I'm talented and skilled enough to be a writer. Of course, we writers put our work out there and essentially ask others to like it. Not everyone does. As writer Shawn St. Jean wrote on his blog Clotho's Loom, writers stand naked on the rocks, exposing everything, including imperfections, and sometimes people throw stones.

"But inasmuch as other artists all must run their gauntlets, it falls to writers to strip themselves naked and stand on the rocks and in the sun, where all gazes, deserving and otherwise, may fall. They know they've done the reps, reformed their diets, put in the sweat and the time, and done their best. And yet, they also know that the extra pounds from drink or age, the stretch marks, the tattoos and scars of youth, the genetic abnormalities, or simple, forgivable imperfections may still glare out. And any writer sensitive to the human condition cannot hide behind the mirror forever: the plain fact is, some folks will not only not praise what they see, they'll be positively repelled by it for their own reasons, and they will spit out toxin," he wrote.

But sometimes the stones, the toxins, the negativity belongs to me. My inner editor is Smith, and he tells me I can't write a book, I'm not authorized to write a book, and I need to submit to the rules – not follow my dreams or believe in myself. Although I could trace those naysayer voices to my past, I realized with amazement fairly recently that no one is telling me these negative things anymore, I am. I learned the negative thought patterns, sure, but the power to disempower them is within me. Say with a smile, "Thank you for your input, but I think I'll do it anyway. I like what I’m doing."

There are many beliefs that carry the weight of truth, but they're just beliefs. I get to say what's right for me and I authorize myself. So when a reviewer rates my book as less than fantabulous, I have to give it no power to stop me or make me feel low enough to trigger self-doubt. I have to see the truth; it's just an opinion not a global truth about my ability. Owning my inner authority takes the sting out and reduces the angst. Like at the end of the Matrix, the first movie in the trilogy, as Neo comes into his own inner authority, he stands in front of bullets coming at him and they mean nothing.

Crimson Romance author Winter Austin is back with us to
share how falling in love with secondary characters in her books has revealed
surprises and led her to expand them with books of their own.

While writing my second book, Retribution, two things happened. First, I discovered some astonishing secrets that were hidden deep within two of my secondary characters. Number two thing, I had beta readers screaming for me to start writing books on those characters because they fell madly in love with them. Well, I did too, and I’m the creator. For me, as with most authors, characters are like real people and they speak to me, and sometimes kind of like the way my teenage kids do, like smart aleks.

I love it when secondary characters take on a life of their own and add to the layers or flavor of the story. They can either irritate the main characters to no end, or enhance their personalities. For both of my main characters they have a cast of secondary characters lined up behind them that bring out a different aspect in both. But for this post I’ll focus on just two of them.

For my hero, Detective Remy LeBeau, it was his partner, Detective Heath Anderson. Heath showed up in my first book years after I created Remy. Eventually this good ole Texas boy began revealing bits and pieces of himself to turn him into a force to reckon with. He kept pushing and prodding into Remy’s life and past, hoping to crack that thick block of ice around Remy. I never understood why it was so important to Heath—well, I did from the aspect that most detective partners are like brothers, they rely on that protection to make it through the job. But it wasn’t until Heath finally connected with the other main character, Cody Lewis, that the flood gates opened up. I can’t give too much away, it would ruin Retribution for you, but let’s just say, what Heath was hiding I never saw it coming.

Then there was Cody’s longstanding best friend, Kimberly Anne Gregory. Kim has been in Cody’s life for as long as I’ve known Cody, but she didn’t step onto the story book stage until Retribution. Kim is a whirlwind, go-getter who loves life and brings out the feminine side of Cody. Yet Kim’s life is an enigma, but I knew one aspect of it for a long time—can’t tell ya, it’d blow the secret. Oddly enough, I never planned this, but the moment Kim and Heath met in Retribution, sparks flew. And well, I had a new romance starting to bud within the main arc for Cody and Remy’s story. Because of this, I got hammered with: “You better write a book for Heath and Kim.”

Ha ha, I actually do have a story for them, but book 3 needs to release first.

I’m not the first and nor will I be the last author to have readers beg to see books for their favorite secondary characters. I’ve been getting requests for books for some secondary characters from my first book, Relentless. And believe me, I do have some general ideas for books for most of my secondary characters.

Now the question remains: How far will this secondary cast take my book series? I hope for a while longer.

Book Info:Called to the homicide of a Dallas criminal lawyer, Detective Remy LeBeau stares at a scene that drags him back into his past. To another murdered lawyer in New Orleans. A case that put Remy on a collision course with death.

Cody Lewis struggles with the horrific memories of her kidnapping and the need to numb the pain. The battle she puts up causes her to avoid Remy and their undetermined relationship. But the flashbacks and nightmares are proving more potent than Cody thought and she’s having a harder time resisting the cravings for alcohol.

As the case takes a turn in revealing a professional assassin is behind the death, Remy begins to make decisions that could cost him his job and Cody. Because the deeper he sinks, the closer the enemies of his past come to finding him.

About the author:
Winter Austin was once asked by her husband if he could meet some of the people who took residence in her head. She warned they weren’t all characters he wanted to meet, as killers walked among them. Needless to say, that conversation ended abruptly.

A lifelong Mid-West gal, Winter swears she should have been born in the South, Texas or Louisiana preferably. But then she’d miss the snowy winters.

Dividing her day between her four children and their various activities, a growing pet population, and her Beta-with-Alpha-tendencies Hero, Winter manages to find time to write chilling thrillers between loads of laundry.

Don’t worry. You won’t find any of her mouthwatering culinary dishes poisoned. Unless you’re one of her fictional creations.

You can learn more about Winter Austin and her current and upcoming releases by visiting her website: http://www.winteraustin.com or her Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/w.austin.degressofdarkness

We all need a good cry now and then, some of us more often than others. I'm usually a glass half-full type person, preferring to see the positive side of things, to see the good in everyone. That doesn't mean I'm stupid – I've been disappointed when the bad has overcome the good I wanted to believe in. But sometimes the unfairness that is life builds up and overwhelms me.

I reached that point recently. I was a wimp. I let things I can't control get to me, and I had a meltdown. I'm not afraid to admit that it felt darned good to cry – it released so much stress I had been holding inside. I vented to a couple of good friends and to my hubby, and then I moved on. There was nothing I could do to change what happened anyway. Hubby is fond of saying "It is what it is." In this case, he was right. (Don't tell him I said that!)

When my eyes quit swimming in tears, I picked up a book and settled in my chair. Reading is my escape – one of them, anyway. So what if I was weepy? Getting lost in a book is good therapy for whatever ails you! Well, that and a good piece of chocolate.

I love to read. I'm rarely without a book. Every purse I own is large enough to hold a paperback. I even keep one in my van, just in case I need it. Reading relaxes me – it's an armchair vacation. My favorite authors lure me into the pages of their books, making me care about their characters before I realize it. They take me along for the adventure of their characters' lives. I can escape for minutes, if that's all the time I have, or I can escape for hours. I can ride the emotional roller coaster and end up feeling satisfied, rather than disgruntled at life. What's not to like about reading?

Readers want various things from books. Some of us want to laugh, some want to escape, some want to be thrilled, or maybe even frightened. Those of us who are also writers may read to learn how another author has handled some aspect of writing, or maybe we just like to read something different than we write.

Our lives are so busy, so filled with living that we sometimes forget we NEED a break now and then. We need some down-time. Turn off the phone, turn off the computer. You don't have to be connected all the time.

Pick up a book (or your e-reader). Tune out the noise around you and get lost in the pages. Immerse yourself in the lives of the characters. Ride the roller coaster of their emotions. Escape. It's good for you!

Do you like a book that makes you laugh out loud, or do you prefer one that scares the living daylights out of you? I'd love to hear what emotions you like to experience when you read. Share?

Here at The Write Way Cafe, we are celebrating one year of blogging!

Our initial vision was to create an inviting space where writers and readers could engage, share, vent and celebrate. In our quest to do so, we've shared our inspirations, our doubts and our fears. We’ve met and introduced authors to readers. We’ve even shared some of our favorite recipes – after all, this is a café! During our year of blogging we've had our ears open to ways we would better meet our vision. There is always ongoing discussion among writers about what is the best way to promote their writing and whether a blog is the most effective way to reach readers. When we launched The Write Way Café a year ago it was with the desire to simply share our love of both reading and writing and do it with a feel of community. A blog was a natural choice because it offers opportunities for various voices to share anything from their latest great read, to a present writing triumph or struggle, to a favorite recipe. We still feel we want The Write Way Café to be that place, so we look forward to years of doing just that.
Now we'd like to hear from you. Please tell us what you like about our blog - what keeps you coming back? What do you like most? What do you like least? Would you be interested in sharing your recipes with us? Whether you are a reader or a writer, we'd like to hear what you think.We would especially like to thank the authors and readers who have shared their thoughts and stories with us and invited their fellow writers and readers to visit The Write Way Café. In appreciation, we are offering a $10 Starbucks Gift Card to one random commenter (winner to be announced on Tuesday June 11). Be sure to leave your email address in your comment so we know how to contact you if you are the winner! It's our way of saying "Thank you!" and be sure to come visit again!